Former President Bill Clinton joined the push for health care reform, Tuesday, telling lawmakers that the economy can't stand the problems of high medical costs and 50 million uninsured Americans for much longer.

Clinton made the stance during a meeting with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill.

"My argument was that this is an economic imperative," he said after the closed-door meeting.

"His argument was that getting the best bill is not only good for the people, it's the best politics," Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said.

Click play for more on the concerns surrounding health care reform, including abortion funding, with CBN News White House Correspondent David Brody.

As president, Clinton made a failed attempt to pass health care reform in 1994 -- the last Democratic president to take on the issue.

Democrats are now hoping his influence will help this time around.

"People trust him," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., one of the architects of the current Senate health care bill.

The House passed its version of health care reform Nov. 7 by a narrow 220-215 vote. Now, the legislation is before the Senate, and supporters are urging quick action.

"Our goal is to make sure it's out of the Senate this year," Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said.

The growing debate surrounding the bill, however, makes meeting that deadline very difficult.

GOP lawmakers are still concerned about the cost of health care reform and other issues in the bill like abortion funding.